About Vampires

Vampires are supernatural undead beings from folklore. They are said to rise from the grave and specific measures must be taken to destroy or permanently kill different types of vampires. Regarded as fictional creatures, vampires are typically portrayed as seductive, elegant, intelligent adversaries. Most versions of vampires also feed on blood (human and/or animal) and cannot survive in natural light. Vampires have elongated, exaggerated canine teeth and are said to pierce the necks of their prey with these teeth. Various portrayals of vampires associate them with mystery, intrigue, danger, eroticism, immortality and identity concepts in literature, film and general culture.

History

Emanating from Germanic and Romanian folkloric traditions, the modern image of a vampire originated in the eighteenth century and became popularized in the nineteenth century. Two pieces of literature popularized tales about vampires, John Polidori's "The Vampire" and Bram Stoker's "Dracula." Note that Stoker, an Irish author, conducted a great deal of firsthand research in and around Transylvania, the area in which Dracula supposedly lives. Stoker utilized local fears and folktales in his compelling and widely popular epistolary novel. Today, vampires are found in books such as Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" series or Anne Rice's "Interview with a Vampire" series. "Interview with a Vampire" was made into film, heightening the vampire's popularity even more. Popular television shows such as Joss Whedon's "Buffy: the Vampire Slayer" also examine the complexities of vampirism, if on more humorous levels.

Identification

Though there are different types of vampires, most do share some common and identifiable traits. Vampires must ingest blood to survive, and it is healthier for them (or their preference) to feed on human blood. Vampires have exaggerated pointy canine teeth that assist them in piercing the neck for feeding. It is possible to permanently destroy a vampire and decapitation is usually the preferred method. Vampires are nocturnal and cannot survive in natural daylight. Also, vampires are undead---that is, they were once dead and rose from the grave, or were intentionally killed and made into vampires.

Types

Different types of vampire characters do exist in fiction and folklore. While they do have some things in common, vampires' traits tend to change according to the fears or perceptions of the society in which their tales are prevalent. For example, folkloric vampires are originally described as ruddy, dark-skinned and bloated. These vampires reflected common fears of being buried alive. Stoker vampires stem from Stoker's "Dracula" and feature refined and wealthy creatures. They sleep in a coffin, only come out at night and need to be invited into a home before they can enter. Stoker vampires can be killed with a wooden stake through the heart and prefer turning young, attractive women into vampires. In recent fiction, Anne Rice vampires share some characteristics as Stoker vampires but these vampires don't mind crosses or garlic. Although they disintegrated in natural light, they are supernaturally fast and struggle with the concepts of immortality and choice. These vampires are pale, veiny and morally complex. Vampires in "Buffy: the Vampire Slayer" suddenly develop ridged foreheads and elongated teeth when they turn. They must be invited into a home to enter and can be killed by means of wooden stake.

Significance

Vampires reflect and confront fears and concerns of mainstream culture. For example, the fear of being buried alive has terrified people for several centuries. In more modern times, vampires change slightly to reflect people living in a more religion-focused society who may enjoy stories that offer an illicit outlet for the seduction associated with vampires. Though timeless, tales of these creatures change slightly to reflect current times.

Misconceptions

Many people believe that there is only one type of fictional vampire, but this certainly isn't true. Each storyteller, author, filmmaker, and historian places his own perspective on vampires. Furthermore, some real individuals insist that they have specific medical conditions causing them to have vampire-like tendencies or cravings. In some circles, the debate about whether vampires are real or fictional is to be decided.

Resources

• Vampires Among Us: Actual and Imagined
• Vampires